Another reason why backers aren’t customers.
The creators of Kone, a coffee filter and brewing system, have a runaway hit on their hands. The Kickstarter project was successfully funded over the summer, reaching more than 3100% of their goal. But, as with all projects, the hard work had only just begun — and success isn’t easy.
Keith Gehrke and Grahm Doughty, the creators and designers, have done a terrific job keeping their backers in the loop, keeping a few unavoidable delays from derailing their relationship with their supporters. With patience and clear communication, they’ve fulfilled and shipped most of their rewards, and yet the final product remains unfinished.
The creators faced a quandary: Stick with the original design, which had some disappointing flaws, or redesign and fall behind schedule? They chose the latter and explained it to their backers — and found an overwhelmingly supportive response.
Says Michael Boyle, one of the team’s backers:
I have no idea whether my attitude is common or rare, but personally whenever I back something on Kickstarter, I go in assuming that it may take a while, possibly a great while, longer than the project designers expect. I don’t count on getting an item by a certain date.
I would much rather help fund the creation of something really awesome, and get that really awesome thing, than be ultimately disappointed in what I get. And the worst case would be if I got my items on time only to feel like a beta-tester because the makers went on to make a version two that solves key flaws in the one they rushed out to their backers meet their deadlines.
So what I’m saying is, I for one am patient as long as the end result is worth it. And it looks like this will turn out to be an awesome product in the end.
Keep up the good work! I look forward to having my brewing system in hand, but I won’t say I can’t wait, because I can. Looks like it’ll be rewarded.
